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'IiitLerto commanded, will induce our farmers to turn their attention here- 

 after more to stock-raising, the dairy, and wool-growing. The cultiva- 

 tion of the tobacco plant will also engage the attention of many of our 

 prominent farmers, the experience of the last three years having furnished 

 abundant evidence that the labor expended in the cultivation of this 

 plant is better repaid than the most sanguine have anticipated. Broom 

 corn is also extensively cultivated within our borders ; and althouo-h 

 there was no exhibition of this article at our Fair, it was solely for the 

 reason that it was unintentionally omitted in the list of articles, for which 

 premiums were offered. Next year, it Avill occupy a prominent place in 

 the list. Flax is raised to some extent among us, and I believe that it is 

 ■ soon destined to receive its proper share of attention, as well for its 

 fibre as for its seed, and that it will ere long become one of the staple 

 products of the county. Madder is also cultivated in small quantities, 

 ■and I hope it will hereafter receive more attention, as I am of the opin- 

 ion that it would prove one of the best paying articles our farmers can 

 raise. In our neighboring State, Illinois, I learn that it is becoming a 

 staple product with many farmers, and that it pays well. The prospects 

 are now favorable that this county will soon be crossed with railroads, 

 • -affording facilities heretofore unknown to our farmers, for the cheap trans - 

 ].portation of their products to market ; and our farming interests never 

 ^looked brighter than at the present time. The price which pork has 

 commanded the past autumn, ranging as it has from $5 60 to 66 25, 

 has giaddenned the heart of the farmer; and I have not seen, for a 

 period of five years, so many pleasant countenances among those return- 

 ing from the market, as I have seen this year, the farmer having been 

 .adequately paid for his labor and toil. 



The Officers elect of our Society for the next year are : 

 President, Henry J. Starin, Whitewater ; Vice-President, William 

 Hollinshead, Delavan ; Treasurer, Peter Golder, Elkhorn ; Secretaries, 

 HoUis Latham, Elkhorn ; David Williams, Geneva ; Managers, George 

 "W. Paul, Kichmond ; Seymour Brooks, East Troy ; William Child, 

 Spring Prairie; Lyman H. Seaver, Darien;"Erastus Humphrey, Hudson. 

 With the warmest wishes for the prosperity of the agricultural inter- 

 ests of our State, and my best regards to you personally. 



I am, yours truly, 



EDWARD ELDERKIN, Secretary. 

 To Albert C. Ingham, Esq. 



Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. 



